Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-01-26
P,casOntoa ut Charlottesville.

Major Clifford Thompson, aide-de-
camp on Gen. Pleasonton's staff. gives
the following account of the fight at
Hazel Grove: "Gen. Pleasonton rode
from gun to gun, directing the gunners
to aim low, not to get excited, to make
every shot tell; the staff-officers, catch
ing their cue from him. did the same,
and while at first there had been con-
siderable excitement and apprehension
among us, it soon quieted down, and
every thought and action was directed
to getting the best service out OF those
guns that they were capable of render
ing. Recovering from the disorder
into which keenan's charge had thrown
them, the enemy could be seen forming
line of battle in the edge
of woods now in our front. They
were scarcely 200 yards distant; vet
such was the gloom that they could not
be clearly distinguished. Gen. Pleas
onton was about to give the order to
fire, when Sergeant at one of the guns
said
General, aren't those our troops?
l see our colors in the liner This was
true, for where he pointed our colors
could be seen--trophies picked up on
the field. Gen. Pleasonton turned to
me and said:
Mr.. Thompson, ride out there and
see who those people are
"For myself, was not at all curious
about those people, being perfectly
willing to wait till they introduced
themselves. Riding out between our
guns, ! galloped to within thirty or
forty yards of them; all along the line
they cried ont to me: Come on; we're
friends! 1t was quite dark and could
not make out their uniforms, but l
could see three of our flags, and these
caused me to hesitate; came to a halt,
peering into the darkness to make sure,
when bullet whistled by me, and then
came the rebel yell The line charged
up the hill toward our guns, and led
it,! Lying down upon my horses neck,
l gave him the spur, and the wells of
the 'Johnnies' behind further stimu-
lated him, SO that we got over the
ground pretty lively. But with the re-
port OF the first shot fred at me, Gen.
Pleasonton had opened fire, and those
twenty-five guns belched forth destruc-
ton at fearfully rapid rate. Although
lying down on my horse, kept an eve
on the guns. and guided my horse be-
tween the flashes, and in less time than
it takes to tell it, was on the safe side
of them. It was load and fire at will
for some minutes; the enemy was
moved down in heaps; they could
make no Roadway against such a cy-
clone, and ran back down the slope to
the cover Of the woods. But still the
canister was poured into them. and q
second attempt to charge the guns
failed. Soon Sickles' corps moved
from its advanced position and inter-
posed between us and the woods; par
ties sent out over the field which had
been swept by our guns found the dead
and dying lying in heaps. Old artil-
lery officers have informed me that
they never before heard such rapid
firing as occurred OF that engagement;
the roar was a continuous one, and the
execution terrific. After it had ceased
/ rode up to Gen. Pleasonton and said:
General. those people out there
are rebelsp
There was grave twinkle in his
eye as he held out his hand and replied:
Thompson, never expected to see
you again; thought if they didn't kill
you l should, but that was no time to
stop for one man.
Il should have agreed with him more
cordially if that one man had been
somebody else. =" When President
Lincoln visited the army o day or two
after this fight. Gen. Pleasonton
CHANGED to call at Hooker's headauar-
ters. when that officer said:
"'Mr. President. this is Gen. Pleas
onton, who saved the Army of the Po-
tomac the other night
"The President acknowledged the
service in his usual grateful manner.
Only inspiration, or the instinct of a
natural soldier, could have enabled
Pleasonton to accomplish so much iu
SO short time with so small force.
The fight at Hazel Grove was one of
those sharp and decisive actions preg-
nant with great results. Tile Cen
tury.